Container-capping machinery.



w. E. HE ATH. I CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINERY.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR/23.1916. 1,233,469. Patented July 17, 1917.

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CONTAINER GAPPING MACHINERY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23.1916.

mr/lbm gym/7 W. E. HEATH.

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION men MAR. 23. m6.

Patented July 17, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- WITNESSES: //VVENTOR A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. HEATH, OF IBALTIMOBE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEATH SELF-OPENING STOPPER COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONTAINER-CAPPING MACHINERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application filed March 23, 1916. Serial No. 86,118.

' Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Container-Capping Machinery,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in container capping machinery; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanationof the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of ,my invention from among other constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

It is an object of the invention to feed 'caps longitudinally and centrally through the head of a capping machine so that the line of feed will be alined with the vertical longitudinal axis of the bottle or other container arranged under said head in cap receiving position and centrally with respect to rotary cap curling or spinning means for locking the caps on the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a vertical stack of caps or closures can be fed by gravity through a capping machine head to the container below said head, with the caps fed downwardly in line with the axis of rotation of means for curling or spinning the caps on the containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in arrangements, construction, and combinations for the production of highly efiicient and advantageous cap feeding and delivering mechanisms for capping machinery.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and pptrticulary set forth and specified hereina er.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:'

Figure 1, is a side elevation of the head portion of a capping machine embodying my present invention. ;Fig. 2, is a vertical section on the line 2-}2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a detail cross section on the line 33, Fig. 5.

Fig. 4', is a detail cross section on the line 4.4,,Fig. 7.

Fig. 5, is a detail vertical section on the line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, is a detail vertical section in the plane of the line 66, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section in the plane of the line 77, Fig. 41.

Fig. 8, is a bottom or inverted end view of the head with the face plate removed.

Fig. 9, is a detail elevation of a cap tube or magazine, the tube being partially broken away to show the caps therein and removable means for maintaining the column of caps in the tube while the loaded tube is being inserted in the head of the machine afier the removal of an end closure of the tu e.

Fig. 10, is a detail vertical section taken in the same plane as the section of Fig. 7, but showing certain moving parts in different positions from those in which they appear in 7.

Fig. 11, is a bottom or inverted end view of the head with its face plate in position, a cap being shown held in position by certain fingers.

In the embodiment illustrated, a rotary driven cap-locking member is centered and rotates on the head of the capping machine and carries spinning or curling tools or devices for locking the cap on a container (arranged below said head and alined with the axis of rotation of said member) while the container is held in sealing position with respect to said head after having received a cap therefrom. And furthermore, in this embodiment, the caps are arranged in a vertical stack or column feeding downwardly by gravity through the head and alined with said axis of rotation, with the caps resting devices so arranged and timed in operation that on each stroke of the machine, a cap will be present at the lower end of the head to receive the mouth of the container as it is brought up to the head and to have-its seal.- in disk or material held against-the contamer mouth under pressure during the rotation of the cap-locking member in spinning said cap on the container mouth, and

that during the return movement of the capped container the lowermost cap of the stack in the head, will be separated from the stack and presented at the lower end of the head backed by a platen or abutment and arranged to receive another container on the next stroke of the machine; while the stack of caps in the head feeds down to take up the space previously occupied by the cap removed and is finally upheld by said platen or abutment. Y I

In this example, each cap is not shifted from its horizontal position nor moved'laterally from the Vertical longitudinal axial line of the head, from the time it enters the head until the time it leaves the machine applied to a container mouth.

In the drawings, I show the upper portion of the mainpost or upright column 1, of a capping machine havin the laterally extending bracket '2, clampe or otherwise secured thereto and formed with'upper and lower arms at their outer ends provided with fixed alined vertical hubs or sockets 3, the vertical openings of which are formed to receive the capping machine head. This head is formed by an elongated vertical tubular member 4, extending through and between said hubs of the bracket arms and extending above and below the same and normally clamped rigidly thereto in any suitable manner or by any suitable means.

An elongated sleeve 5, is clamped in the lower hub 3, and depends therefrom around the head 4, which is clamped or otherwise fixed concentrically in and depends from the lower end thereof. The sleeve 5, carries and upholds the rotary cap spinning or locking member which consists of a pulley having rim 6, receiving driving belt 7, by which the pulley is constantly rotatedgan elongated hub 8, centered and rotating on the sleeve 5, and an intervening web formed with a number of uniformly spaced vertical bearings extending therethrough, and receiving. the vertical rock shafts 10, at their lower ends havin arms 11, carrying the curling or spinning tools 12, and at their upper ends having spring-pressed lateral arms 13,- by which the curling tools are brought to and from operative relation with respect to the cap. The arms 13, are forced outwardly by cone 14, vertically. movable on the hub 8, and controlled by lever 15, to' bring the curling tools to operative relation with respect to a cap on a bottle or other container, all as explained at length in my co-pending patent applicationfiled February 5, 1916, S. No. 76,398.

The head 4, is formed with acylindrical bore extending throughout the length thereof, and the diameter of this bore exceeds the exterior diameter of the caps an, even though (in the example shown) an internal upwardly facing shoulder 16, is formed in the nection with a cap tube, yet I prefer to employ such tubes in which the caps a, can be stacked for shipment and packing and which constitute convenient means by which supplies of caps can be maintained in capping machines. In the example illustrated, I show an elongated cap tube 17, containing a plurality of caps all parallel and facing in the same direction and more or less loosely fitted therein so that the colunm of caps can freely feed down in the tube by gravity as the. caps are removed one at a time from the lower end of the tube. V

Eachv tube is usually permanently closed at one end 18, and after the tube has been loaded with caps inserted through its oppo site end, said end is closed against outward movement ofthe caps therefrom by a cross pin 19 (Fig. 9) passed diametrically through the tube at the outer face of the end cap. I also usually entirely close the otherwise open end of the tube by an exterior removable closure 20. The cross pin projects at the exterior of the tube to afford a finger hold by which the pin can be grasped and removed after the tube has been inserted in the machine head. The flanged orv open sides of the caps all face toward the discharge end of the tube, that is, the end bearing pin 19, and hence said pin constitutes a visible indicator for the guidance of the operator in placing the tubes in the head discharge end down; When loading a machine head, the operator removes closure 20, and then inserts the cap tube in the machine head until the lower end edge of the tube rests" on internal shoulder 16. During this operation the pin 19, retains the column of caps in the tube. After the tube has been thus properly seated in the head, the operator inserts his fingers or a suitable tool, into radial opening 21, in the front side of the lower endof head 4, and grasps the projecting end of pin 19, and withdraws said pin from the tube and the head, thereby permitting the caps to slide down in the tube.

Each tube can be of any desired length according to the number of caps each tube is to carry. The tubes are of greater length than the head of the machine and project upwardly any suitable distance above said head. When a tube in a'machine becomes empty it is removed and a loaded tube is inserted.

The column of caps a, in the head is normally upheld by a horizontal shutter or plate, in this example in the form of a slide 22, which also forms the platen or abutment forthe cap at the under side of the head in the bottle receiving position, and fur- 1 thermore this plate controls the passage of caps from said column to said bottle receiving position.

The lower end-of the head 4, is usually enlarged laterally and at its bottom or under face is traversed by a recess or slideway embodying longitudinal parallel guiding and edges 23. The plate '22, is arranged movable in said slideway between the guide edges 23, and is confined inthe slideway by face plate 24, removably secured by machine screws 25, or other suitable means, against the enlarged lower end of the head and forming the bottom face of the head. The plate 22 is fiat and comparatively extensive in width and length, and is formed 1 cap passage of the head. The ports 26,

and 28, and the lower end of the bore of.

the head below the cap tube, are all approximately of the same diameter, and are slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the caps. The port 28, is spaced a distance from the lower-end of the bore of the head approximately equal to the thickness of the slide plate 22, andthe port 26, of said plate is adapted to move into registration or alinement with said bore and said port 28, when a cap is to be fed or discharged into port 28. When the plate 22 is at its limit of stroke in one direction, the port 26 is in registration with the bore of the head and a cap can drop therefrom through port 26 and into port 28. When the plate 22 is at its limit of movement in the opposite direction, the portion 27 of the plate closes the-lower end of the bore of the head and supports the column of caps therein and also overlies the port 28 -and backs the cap therein.

Means are provided to uphold the column of caps above the lower cap thereof, when the slide plate is in cap feeding position, that is, when its port 26, is in registration with the bore of the head, so that the bottom cap only will be allowed to drop through port 26. As an example of means that can be provided for this purpose, I show a number (four for example) of radial pins 29, extending through and slidable in radial perforations inthe head 4:, above the laterally enlarged lower end thereof. The inner ends of these pins can be pointed if so desired, and said pins are arranged to engage their pointed inner ends with the circumference of the cap resting on the lower cap in the head bore, when the slide plate is in cap feeding position, and grip said cap with sufiicient force to uphold the column of caps in the bore. These pins are arranged to slide radially of the head to withdrawn position with their points removed from the bore when it is not necessary to perform their function of upholding the column of caps. i

Suitable devices are also provided to up hold caps in the port or socket 28, at the under side of the head in position to receive the bottle mouth. As an example of devices that can be provided for this purpose, I show a diametrically opposite pair of fingers 30, the points 31 of which are adapted to project below the face plate and under the socket 28, therein so that the lower edge of the flange of a cap can rest thereon and the cap can be upheld thereby properly centered in said socket with the upper side of the cap resting against and backed by These fingers are normally arranged in cap supporting position but are provided with actuating means for withdrawing them just before the bottle mouth reaches the cap so that the cap can freely receive the bottle mouth.

Various mechanisms can be provided for operating the slide plate, the cap gripping pins, and the cap upholding fingers to perform their strokes in proper sequence. As an example of mechanism that can be em ployed for operating the slide, 1 show a norslide collar 22, on the upper portion of the head 4, to which a slide bar 22", is secured. This slide bar is raised and lowered by the collar and said bar is arranged longitudi-- nally of the head 4:, in a longitudinal groove in which the bar is slidable. The lower end of bar 22 abuts the upper edge of the upper laterally extending arm 22, lever arranged at the exterior of the head and fulcrumed to swing vertically on a horizontal fulcrum pin carried by the head, and having its depending arm 22 pivotally joined to one end portion of the slide 22, to reciprocate said slide. Said elbow lever is yieldingly held with its upper arm bearing upwardly against the lower end of bar 22 by a suitable spring 22, which spring hence constantly tends to yieldingly hold the slide plate 22, in'and restore the same to its normal position closing the bore of the head and upholding the column of caps therein.

The collar 22*, is raised and lowered by a lever 33, fulcrumed to the bracket 2, and having suitable operating connection to means operated by a cam shaft (not shown) such for instance, as illustrated in my hereinbefore mentioned co-pending patent applica' tion.

of a bell crank the portion 27, of the slide plate.

At the proper period wlth respect to the 100 mally elevated vertically movable" exterior.

operation of other parts, the collar 22, is forced downwardly, and the slide bar 22 then swings the elbow lever against the tension of its spring 22, to move the slide plate 22, from operative position, and bring its feed opening into line with the bore of the head and permit the lower cap to drop through the plate and onto the points 31, of the fingers .30. The collar 22, will then move up to its normal position, and the spring 22", will return the slide plate to its normal position shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

As an example of mechanism that can be employed for operating, the gripping pins 29, I show vertically movable collar 29, on the exterior of the upper portion of the head 4. This collar is raised and lowered by vertically swingable lever 34, provided with suitable operating connections extending to and controlled and operated in proper sequence by a cam shaft (not shown).

Four slide bars 29, are secured to and operated by this collar 29, and extend downwardly along the head 4, in suitable grooves in which they are slidable. The lower ends of these slide bars engage the top edges of the upper laterally extending arms of vertically swingable elbow 'or bell crank levers 29, fulcrumed to the head and arranged at the exterior thereof, while the depending arms of said levers are pivotally joined to blocks or heads 29 to which the pins 29, are fixed and from which they project inwardly into the head 4. Each lever 29, is provided with a spring 29, constantly tending to forcethe pins 29, inwardly into cap gripping position and to hold the levers into engagement with the slide bars 29". The slide bars 29 are normally at their limits of downward lever 35, having operating connections controlled by a cam on the cam shaft hereinbefore mentioned.

A pair of slide bars 30", are fixed to collar 30, and depend therefrom and are slidable in longitudinal grooves in the head 4. At their lower ends, these slide bars are pivotally joined to the upper ends of the elongated vertically arranged fingers 30. The fingers form downward continuations of said bars and are longitudinally slidable in downward continuations of the grooves in the head that receive said bars. These grooves extend downwardly across the enlarged lower end of the head and the face plate 24, and the floors of the lower ends of said grooves curve downwardly and inwardly. The lower ends of the fingers are tapered or reduced in thickness and are also curved. or deflected downwardly and inwardly to their points 31.

Springs 30, bear against said swinging fingers and press the same inwardly and radially of the head. The slide bars 30, and the fingers are normally at their limits of downward movement with the free lower ends of the fingers at their limits of inward movement so that the points 31, of the fingers are normally located below the cap receiving port or socket 28, to uphold a cap therein. When the collar 30, is elevated, the slide bars 30 pull the fingers 30, upwardly and the curved formation of said fingers then causes the fingers to swing outwardly against the tension of their springs, to withdraw their points from cap supporting position, to release the cap. When the collar 30, again moves down to its normal position, the fingers will be forced down by the slide bars 30", and the springs w'ill swing the fingers inwardly and bring their points back to normal cap supporting position. The action of these fingers as well as of the gripping pins is exceedingly quick and rapid and the movements thereof to and from operative and withdrawn positions are very slight.

When the parts are in normal position .(Figs. 2, 5, 6, 7) the slide plate is upholding the column of caps in the head, and the fingers 30, are upholding a cap in bottle receiving position with its closed side bear-ing against the under side of said plate.

A container, such as bottle I), is then placed on the bottle table (not shown) of the machine with its mouth vertically alined with the cap upheld by fingers 30. The treadle (not shown) of the machine is then depressed, or the machine is otherwise thrown into action'to make a complete container capping operation, as set forth in my hereinbefore mentioned co-pending application.

When the machine thus starts into action,

the table elevates the bottle, and just before the mouth of the bottle enters the cap held by fingers 30, the collar 30, is elevated by the cam shaft and the points of the fingers 30, move outwardly and upwardly from upholding engagement with the cap. This action is almost instantaneous with the entrance of the bottle mouth into the cap.

- When the bottle mouth has entered said cap, the table exerts upward pressure to compress the sealing material in the cap against the edge ofthe bottle mouth, during which period of pressure, the cap is hacked and the pressure is sustained by the slide plate depress the cone 14, and cause the spinning 22. Also during this period of sealing pressure, the cam shaft operates the lever 15, to

or curling tools of the rapidly rotating cap locking member, to close in around the cap on the bottle mouth and turn or spin the depending flange of said cap in under the exterior shoulder of the bottle to lock the cap on the bottle and then withdraw, as explained in my said co-pending application. The bottle having thus been capped, the table starts on its downward stroke to lower the bottle. As soon as the cap carried by the bottle moves down from the slide plate, the collar 22*, begins to move down and the slide plate begins its stroke from normal position to bring its port 26, into registration. with the column of caps in the head bore and with the port 28, in the bottom face plate to permit the bottom cap of the column to drop from the column and into port 28. However, before this cap feeding operation takes place, the cam shaft actuates the collar 29, to project the pins 29, into grippin engagement with the cap of the column a ove said bottom cap to uphold said column while the slide plate is in cap feeding position and while said bottom cap is dropping to bottle receiving position in the face plate 24. Also before this cap feeding operation is completed, the cam shaft operates the collar- 30 to project the fingers 30, downwardly with their points 31, in operative position below the port or socket 28, in the face plate. Hence, when the port 26 of the slide plate reaches its cap feeding position and permits the downward passage of said bottom cap,

the fingers 30, are in position to catch said cap (see Fig. 10) and the gripping pins are in position upholding the remaining caps in the machine head. Then before the machine completes its single operative stroke and comes to rest, the cam shaft operates the proper parts to return the slide plate to normal position above the cap then held by fingers 30 and closing the bore of the machine hea and then to withdraw the gripping pins from gripping position, permitting the column of caps to feed down by gravity in the machine head and drop onto the slide plate which normally upholds said column of caps. The machine will then come to rest with a cap in bottle receiving position in readiness to receive the mouth of a bottle carried by the table on the next operative stroke of the machine. I

It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations might be resorted to, that various operating and timing mechanisms might be employed, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit the invention to the exact disclosure hereof.

What I claim is 1. A machine for automatically applying flanged caps toreceptacle mouths and spinning or curling the same thereon comprisinga rotary cap spinning or curling device, means for bringing the .cap and receptacle together in a direction alined with the axis of rotation of said device, and mechanisms for automatically and vertically feeding the caps down a path alined with said axis of rotation while maintaining each cap in a horizontal position with its flange depending and for successively presenting the caps while in said position for application to such receptacles.

2. A capping machine provided with a head having a vertical passage extending longitudinally therethrough and arranged to receive a column of superimposed horizontal caps and to permit said column to feed downwardly by gravity asthe bottom caps are successively discharged therefrom, rotary means for'spinning the caps on the container mouths, the axis of rotation of a head having a central vertical cap feeding passage formed to receive a downwardly feeding column of superimposed horizontal caps, periodically operating pins to support said column" of caps at certain periods, a slide to support the column of caps at other periods and to permit downward discharge of the bottom cap of the column, and means to catch said bottom cap and hold the same in bottle mouth receiving position.

4:- In a capping machine, in combination, a stationary head having a vertical longitudinal 'feed passage formed to receive a downwardly feeding column of abutting superimposed horizontal caps movable downwardly therein as the bottom caps thereof are successively discharged from the column, means to receive the bottom caps successively and hold the same at the lower end of the head with their open sides down to receive a bottle mouth,-and mechanism for causing the bottom cap of said column to feed down to said means while maintaining its horizontal position and for backing said cap while subjected to the sealing pressure of the bottle.

5. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having a vertical longitudinal feed passage extending therethrough and formed to receive a vertical column of abutting superimposed horizontal caps and to permit the same to move downwardly as the bottom caps are successively discharged from the column, and mechanisms adapted to sucmouth receiving position.

cessively move the bottom caps down in the longitudinal axial line of said passage and to bottle mouth receiving position and while maintaining their horizontal position. 6. In a capping machine, in combination, a vertical head having a central vertical cap feeding passage extending longitudinally therethrough, fingers to hold a cap at the lower end of said passage in bottle mouth receiving position,- and a slide movable across said passage to back said cap in bottle mouth receiving position and to periodically support the column of caps in the passage, said slide being arranged to cause periodical feeding of the bottom caps of said column therefrom and to said bottle 7. In a capping machine, in combination, a vertical head having a vertical cap feeding passage extending longitudinally therethrough and at its lower end provided with means to support a cap in bottle mouth' receiving position, movable means above the lower end of the head to back the cap in bottle mouth receiving position and to periodically support the column of caps in said passage, said movable means being formed to cause the lower cap of said column to feed down to said bottle mouth receiving position, and additional movable means to support the column of caps during the interval when the bottom cap thereof is feeding down to said bottle mouth receiving position. V

8. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having a vertical cap feeding passage extending longitudinally therethrough and formed to receive a column of abutting superimposed horizontal caps and to permit the same to feed downwardly therein as the bottom caps thereof are successively fed therefrom, movable means to support a cap in the lower end of said passage and in bottle mouth receiving position, a periodically movable member having a ath of movement across said passage an diately above said cap in the lower end thereof in bottle mouth receiving position and arranged to back said cap while receiving the bottle mouth and to support the column of caps there above, said member havlnga cap feeding opening adapted to register with said passage to cause downward feeding of the bottom cap from the column, and means to support the column of caps while said bottom cap is feeding downward from the column, said last mentioned means being periodically movable to and from operative position.

9. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having a central vertical cap feeding passage extending longitudinally therethrough, spring held periodically movable fingers for supporting a cap in bottle mouth receiving position at the lower end of said imme'-' pas'sage,a periodically movable slide carried by said head and traversingsaid passage to form an abutment for and engaging the upper side'of the cap in bottle mouth receiving position, said slide being movable to permit successive downward movement of the bottom capsof a column of caps in said passage, and periodically movable means for supporting the column of caps during said downward movement of the bottom caps. r

10. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having a vertical cap feeding passage extending longitudinally therethrough and formed to receive a column of abutting superimposed horizontal caps adapted to feed downwardly in said passage as the bottom caps discharge successively from the column, cap gripping pins arranged radially of said head and periodically movable simultaneously into and from operative position with respect to said passage and caps therein, means to support a cap in bottle mouth receiving position at the lower end of said head, and mechanism to cause successive feeding of the bottom caps of said column from the column and to said bottle mouth receiving position.

11. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having a vertical longitudinal passage formed to receive a downwardly feeding column of caps, said head having a socket at its lower end face adapted to receive a cap in bottle mouth receiving position, means to cause successive feeding of the bottom caps in the passage to said socket, and vertically arranged longitudinally movable spring pressed fingers having downwardly and inwardly curved ends adapted to project under said socket to uphold a cap therein in bottle mouth receiving position, said fingers being provided with means for moving them vertically for withdrawing their ends from and projecting the same to operative position.

12. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having a Vertical cap feeding passage extending longitudinally therethrough,

said head provided with a face plate on the under side of. its lower end having a socket opening therethrough and alined with said passage and adapted to receive a cap in bottle mouth receiving position, periodically movable means to support a cap in said socket and to release the same to receive the bottle mouth, a rotary member centered on said head for spinning or curling the caps on the bottle mouths, and means for periodically feeding caps to said socket.

13. In a capping machine, in combination, a head having means at its lower end to support a cap in bottle mouth receiving position and to release the cap to receive the bottle mouth, said head having a cap'feeding passage, a periodically movable slide to cause successive feeding of caps from said passage to said bottle mouth receiving position and for supporting the caps in said passage and for backing the caps said 5 bottle mouth receiving position.

14. In a capping machine, in combination,

an elongated cap tube having removable means at one end projecting at the exterior of the tube for supporting a column of caps 10 in the tube while the tube is being inserted in the head of a capping machine, in combination with a capping machine head having a vertical longitudinal passage to removably receive said tube, said head formed with an opening whereby access can be had described.

WILLIAM E. HEATH. 

